Means for feeding molten glass to a rolling apparatus for producing a continuous glass strip



E B. LE M\RE ET AL AS FOR PRODUCING A CONT 1,824,490 ING APPARATUS INUOUS GLASS STRIP 18, 1950 Sept. 22, 1931.

MEANS FOR FEEDING MOLTEN G S TO A ROLL Filed Dec.

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7 1. An 3 2 1 kg Patented Sept. 22, 1931 ED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE ERNEST BRISTOW LE MARE OF ST. HELENS, AND FREDERIC BARNES WALDRON, OF

PRESCQT, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO PILKINGTON BROTHERS LIMITED, 0F LIVER- POOL, ENGLAND, A COMPANY OF ENGLAND 'IYIEANS FOR FEEDING MOLTEN GLASS TO A ROLLING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A.

CONTINUOUS GLASS STRIP Application filed December 18, 1930, Serial No. 503,197, and in Great Britain December 28, 1929.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in connection with the continuous production of glass in strip form, by rolling molten glass issuing from a tank or other source, and, more particularly, to mechanism for adjusting the position of the gates that are commonly used for regulating the rate of flow of theglass passing to the rolling apparatus.

According to the invention, duplicate devices engage the gate at points near its two ends and can be operated simultaneously so as to raise and lower the gate parallel to itself. Either or each of the devices comprises means for moving one end of the gate relatively to the other end so as to ad ust the inclination of the gate in its own plane, while provision also is made whereby the gate is free to move sideways 1n ts own plane or parallel to itself in a direction perpendicular to its own plane, or to take up an inclined position in either or both of two planes. The duplicate devices are adapted to exercise a downward pressure on the gate through springs, whereby the gate can yield angularly in its own plane and can therefore, when adjusted into an 1nclined position, close on to its horizontal seat. Moreover, the springs limit the downward pressure which can be exercised and so protect the gate against injury.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front view of the adjusting mechanism connected with a gate, partly broken away;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on a larger scale through one of the adjusting devices, and

Figure 3 is an elevation of said adjusting device as viewed in a direction at right angles to that at which Figure 2 is viewed, and partly broken away.

Referring to Figure 1, the gate 1 is connected at two points near its ends by straps 2 to rods 3 terminating in two adjusting devices 4 fixed to a supporting beam 5, the two devices 4 being actuated together by a single shaft 6. 1

Referring to Figure 2, the rod has a screw-thread 011 its upper end, engaging a nut? formed in a long tube or sleeve 8. This tube is adapted to slide in a piece 9, but is prevented from turning in it by a feather 10 which engages a keyway 11 in the piece 9.

The piece 9 is adapted to turn in a split spherical block 12, which is held in the spherical seatings 13 of a split casing 14.

The tube 8 has a screw thread on its upper end, engaging a nut 15 which bears against the upper end of the piece 9. The tube 8 is normally retained in its lowest position, as determined by the nut 15, by a spring 16, which bears against a flange 17 on the lower end of the tube 8 and against the lower end of the piece 9.

A worm-wheel 18 is formed on the piece 9, with which engages" a worm 19 (Figure 3) on the shaft 6, the worm being housed in the back of the spherical block 12.

Rotation of the shaft 6 turns the wormwheel 18 and therefore also the tube 8, and, by means of the nut 7, raises or lowers the rod 3. The worms of the two devices being on the same shaft 6, the rotation of said shaft raises or lowers the two rods 3, and therefore the gate 1 parallel to itself.

Rotation of the nut 15 raises or lowers the .tube 8 in the piece 9, the spring 16 being thereby compressed or lengthened. By

means of the nuts 15, therefore, the gate can be given any desired inclination in its own plane, and actuation of the shaft 6 raises or lowers the gate as a whole with such inclination.

The shaft 6 is sufiici'entlyflexible to admit of it bending to the slight extent called for by adjustment of the nuts 15, but, if desired, provision for such flexing may be obtained by the use of flexible couplings in said shaft.

Since the piece 9 is embraced by the block 12 and this, in turn, by the, casing 1 1, rotation of the worm-wheel to lower the gate exercises a positive pressure downwards on the gate. When, however, the gate has been lowered on to its seating, any positive pres-- sure exercised by rotation of the worm-wheel is limited by the spring 16, which enables the tube 8 to yield upwardly, and so avoid undue pressures on the gate which might injure it. Further, if the gate is lowered on to its seating when in an inclined position, so that one end contacts with its seating before the other, the yielding due to the springs 16 enable the gate to take up the position in which it contacts with its seating throughout its length.

Since the rods 3 are supported in the spherical blocks 12, held in the spherical seatings 13, they are free to move in any angular direction and this freedom of movement permits the gate to move sideways in its own plane or parallel to itself in a direction perpendicular to its own plane, or to take up an inclined position in either or both of two planes.

The gate is thereby free to accommodate itself to its seating, even though, this, by reasons of errors of construction or expansion or wear, may not be vertical or truly placed relatively to the adjusting devices.

The invention is not limited to ,the construction shown and described and this may be varied provided that it enables the gate to be raised and lowered parallel to itself and also enables the inclination of the gate in its own plane to be adjusted.

Having described our invention, we declare that what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In apparatus of the type described, gate adjusting mechanism comprising two members connected to the gate near its ends, a raising and lowering device engaging each of the said members, means operable to actu-. ate simultaneously the two raising and lowering devices, and a second device adapted to raise and lower each member and operable independently of the first device.

2. In apparatus of the type described, gate adjusting mechanism comprising two members connected'to the gate near its ends, two raising and lowering devices, a second device adapted to raise and lower each member and operable independently of the first device and a support for each member adapted to permit angular movement of the member perpendicular. to the plane of the gate.

3. In apparatus of the type described, gate adjusting mechanism comprising two members connected to the gate near its ends,

a raising and lowering device engaging each of the said members, means operable to actuate simultaneously the two raising and lowering devices, a second device adapted to raise and lower each member and operable independently of the first device, and yielding devices adapted to limit the downward pressure exercisable on the members.

4. In apparatus of the type described, gate adjusting mechanism comprising two members connected to the gate near its ends, two raising and lowering devices, a second device adapted to raise and lower each member and operable independently of the first device, a support for each member adapted to permit angular movement of the member perpendicular to the plane of the'gate, and yielding devices adapted to limit the downward pressure exercisable on the members.

5. In apparatus of the type described, gate adjusting mechanism comprising two members connected to the gate near its ends,

two raising and lowering devices, a second device adapted to raise and lower each member and operable independently of the first device and a support for each member adapted to permit angular movement of the member perpendicular to the plane of the gate and in the plane of the gate. v

6. In apparatus of the type described, gate adjusting mechanism comprising two members connected to the gate near its ends, a raising and lowering device engaging each of the said members, a worm wheel adapted to actuate each of the said devices, two worms engaging the said worm wheels, a shaft carrying the two worms and a second device adapted to raise and lower each member and operable independently of the first device.

7. In apparatus of the type described, gate adjusting mechanism comprising two members connected to the gate near its ends, a raising and lowering device engaging each of the said. members, a Worm wheel adapted to actuate each of the said devices, worms engaging the said worm wheels, a shaft carrying the two Worms, a second device adapted to raise and lower each member and operable independently of the first device and a support for each member adapted to permit angular movement of the member perpendicular to the plane of the gate.

8. In apparatus of the type described, gate adjusting mechanism comprising two members connected to the gate near its ends, a raising and lowering device engaging each of the said members, a worm wheel adapted to actuate each of the said devices, worms engaging the said worm wheels, a shaft carrying the two worms, a second device adapted to raise and lower each member and operable independently of the first device, and yielding devices adapted to limit the downward pressure exercisable on the members.

9. In apparatus of the type described, the combination with a gate and two members connected to the gate near its ends, of a raising and lowering device engaging each of said members, comprising a worm and worm wheel, a,:sleeve mounted co-axially within and angularly fast to the worm wheel but movable axially relatively thereto, anadjustable stop determining the down position of the sleeve and a nut fast to the sleeve and in threaded engagement with the member, and a shaft carrying the two worms.

10. In apparatus of the type described,

the combination with a gate and two members connected .to the gate near its ends, of

a raising and lowering device engaging each of said members, comprisin a worm and worm wheel, a spherical bloc within which the worm wheel is rotatable, a spherical seating for the said block, a sleeve mounted co-axially within and angularly fast to the worm Wheel but movable axially thereof, a nut threaded on the upper end of the sleeve constituting an adjustable stop for the downward movement of the sleeve, a spring constantly tending to depress the sleeve to the limit permited by said stop, and a nut fast to the sleeve and in threaded engagement with the member, and a shaft carrying the two worms. Y

In witness whereof Wehave aflixed our signatures hereto.

ERNEST BRISTOW LE MARE. FREDERIC BARNES WALDRONL 

